Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’, characterized by its double anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andreferred to by the name ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofthe Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona Lisa Pink, not patented. Thenew Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor in April,2003 as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of theparent selection in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings inHensbroek, The Netherlands since May, 2003, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Double anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped,        pink-colored ray florets; typically grown as a spray-type.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent,the cultivar Mona Lisa Pink. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inHensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedfrom plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Pink primarily in ray floretcoloration as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have darker pink-coloredray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/118,921. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedprimarily from plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had apiculate        apices whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon        had cuspidate apices.    -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were elliptic        in shape whereas ray florets of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa        Salmon were lanceolate in shape.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were pink in        color whereas ray florets of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa        Salmon were salmon pink in color.    -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had more        ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Mona        Lisa Salmon.    -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants        of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Mona Lisa Rosy’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view ofupper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of‘Mona Lisa Rosy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the late summer in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, undercommercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initiallygiven long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long nighttreatments to induce flower initiation and development. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30°C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levelswere about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about nineweeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona    Lisa Rosy.-   Commercial classification: Double anemone-type Chrysanthemum    typically grown as a spray-type cut flower.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the    Chrysanthemum×morifolium Mona Lisa Pink, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in            color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous double anemone-type cut            Chrysanthemum; typically grown as a spray-type; erect and            strong flowering stems. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 75 cm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Aspect:            Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single            stems. Color: 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 6 cm to 13 cm. Width: About 4 cm to 8.5 cm. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed.            Texture, upper and lower surface: Slightly pubescent.            Petiole length: About 5 mm to 30 mm. Color: Developing            foliage, upper surface: Close to 139A. Developing foliage,            lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: Close to 137A; venation, 137B. Fully expanded            foliage, lower surface: Between 137B and 137C; venation,            138B. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 138B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Double anemone-type inflorescence form with            elliptic-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.            Typically grown as a spray-type.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant            typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At            other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and            development can be induced under short day/long night            conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed            to long day/short night conditions after planting followed            by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower            about seven weeks later. Early and uniform flowering            response.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain            good substance and form for about three weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 25 to            30 inflorescences per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Depth            (height): About 2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1 cm to 3 cm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 7            mm to 13 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 60 in numerous whorls. Color: When            opening, upper surface: 69D. When opening, lower surface:            N155B. Fully opened, upper surface: Between 69B and 69C.            Fully opened, lower surface: 69D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 6 mm            to 17 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 75. Color: Immature: 145C. Mature:            Apex: 150B. Mid-section: 155D. Base: 145C.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm.            Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther color: Close to 151B. Pollen: None observed.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma            length: About 1 mm. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma            color: Close to 151B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens    and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona LisaRosy’, as illustrated and described.